Elite Ukrainian Special Forces Are Infiltrating The Enemy's Rear In Large Numbers
- 22.07.2026, 7:59
Over the past year, the number of operations has increased significantly.
Elite Ukrainian special forces are conducting an increasing number of infiltration operations into territory controlled by Russia, as the combat zone—teeming with drones—continues to expand, making it difficult to carry out large-scale operations. This is reported by Business Insider.
It is noted that infiltration operations typically involve small groups of soldiers making their way across the enemy’s front lines to carry out a mission that can range from capturing a key position to conducting ambushes, raids, and assaults.
According to an operator with the 4th Ranger Regiment, “the number of missions has increased over the past year.”
The expansion of the combat zone is forcing the Ukrainians not only to carry out more infiltration operations but also to assign operators tasks related to similar Russian activities.
An operator with the 4th Ranger Regiment, the deputy commander of a small unit with the call sign Gur, said that he is typically assigned “specific, targeted missions”:
“We may be tasked with destroying a specific enemy position. We go in, destroy it, and return. This can take two days, four days, or a week. We don’t necessarily have to remain in the area for a fixed period of time.”
The area of operations is expanding
To cope with the increased pace, Ukrainian special forces will rotate teams to carry out these missions, allowing soldiers to rest, train, and prepare.
It is noted that Ukrainian soldiers and officials often describe the front line as a “zone of impact”—an area heavily saturated with drones that can quickly attack troops and military equipment, making any movement extremely dangerous. Drones account for approximately 90% of all strikes on the battlefield.
The width of the strike zone varies across the battlefield, though it typically extends about 10–20 kilometers in any direction from the line of contact. However, Ukrainian soldiers report that it is expanding, forcing commanders to make tactical adjustments.
Gur attributed the expansion of the strike zone to the continued proliferation of first-person view (FPV) drones. In parallel with similar Russian operations, the number of Ukrainian sabotage missions has increased.
The operator said, “They’re using our tactics, too. They infiltrate in groups of two to four soldiers and can make their way into our rear areas. Then that becomes yet another challenge for us. We have to go in and eliminate them.”
Last year, Ukrainian soldiers stated that Russian sabotage operations had become increasingly problematic during the war. The missions varied: some were aimed at holding positions, others at key defensive structures. But for the most part, they were designed to divert attention and sow chaos.
Gur noted that Ukrainian units on the front lines do not always have sufficient manpower to effectively control all the territory they hold. Therefore, when Russian forces penetrate the front line, his team may be tasked with plugging the breach.
Importantly, the expansion of the strike zone has also prompted Ukrainian special forces to use ground robots for logistics closer to the front lines and for evacuating the wounded—tasks that have become too dangerous for soldiers given the current presence of drones.
“War creates its own conditions. Drones with FPV screens have appeared, so we have to respond to that. We need to adapt somehow if we want to survive and continue operating,” Gur said.